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Chattanoogans have become used to watching new downtown area hotels rise from the ground up, but the new Waymark Hotel has taken shape from inside out.
That is because the historic Chattanooga Bank Building, as it was known for decades, has been restored, remodeled and refurbished into a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel. As a result, some of the finer elements of architectural adornment typically put in banks of old remain to offer what hotel officials hope is a unique experience for travelers.
“I think people will definitely appreciate the historic aspect of this hotel, including all the original elements from 1927 that are incorporated into the building,” said hotel director of sales Katie Cox as she offered a tour a couple of weeks before its formal opening in late January. “That includes an original letter drop, elevator doors, the elevator dials and Tennessee white marble throughout,” she said.
And some of the other aesthetic features that now might draw the most eyes - like two bank vault doors where a basement speakeasy bar will be - were originally put in just for function.
But there is no doubt this building on East Eighth Street between Market and Broad streets is uniquely a hotel, with people checking in where checks were cashed, and maybe a passport instead of a passbook now in a traveler’s pocket.
Ms. Cox said the hotel - which features 148 rooms of uniquely varying shapes and sizes and several meeting spaces - also has a unique name strictly attached to this Chattanooga hotel. A waymark is a directional sign on a trail for a hiker, and the hotel is, yes, banking on it to be a popular destination for the various out-of-town visitors who come to Chattanooga to enjoy outdoors activities in the nearby mountains and waterways.
“We are looking for the urban mountaineer,” she said. “We are looking for the hiker, rock climber and mountain biker. And when you are here, you can immerse yourself into being a local.”
That draw is emphasized through some earth-tone color accents throughout the hotel’s rooms and public areas, as well as some outdoorsy photos and artwork that grace the walls. This is also made evident by the larger-than-typical exercise room with multiple pieces of equipment.
But the hotel also has plenty of draw for the true urbanite as well, primarily through its historic and architectural detail that might let one feel as if he or she is in Manhattan or another big American city. Historic preservationists might find the hotel as appealing as hikers, and Chattanoogans who have admired or frequented the building over the years might even be tempted to stay there.
Of course, it is not the only hotel in a historic building in Chattanooga. The current Read House building has been around since 1926 and has always been a hotel, and the old Park Hotel near the Hamilton Courthouse was also refurbished and recently reopened after being an office building with a mid-century covering for several decades, among others.
The Chattanooga Bank Building opened amid much local fanfare on Oct. 26, 1927, as the Chattanooga Savings Bank. A key bank official was Z.W. Wheland, and he chose R.H. Hunt to be the architect because Mr. Wheland had also been involved as a civic volunteer with the construction of the Hamilton County Courthouse and Memorial Auditorium and liked Mr. Hunt’s work on those structures.
By 1929, the bank merged with First National Bank, and the lobby area was remodeled. The bank was unfortunately a victim of the Great Depression a few years later, but the building remained for decades and now appears ready to be around for many more years with its new polish and use.
Mr. Hunt, incidentally, also had his office in the Chattanooga Bank Building for a period, as have people such as the late Coca-Cola bottling magnate Cartter Lupton. In more recent decades before the building closed as new development opportunities there were sought, tenants included noted portrait artist Gordon Wetmore in a 10th floor penthouse, the Clements Jewelers clock and watch repair business, and the offices of identical twin lawyers Chamberlain McAllester and Robert McAllester. On the lobby level were Rone Regency Jewelers and a small Mediterranean-style restaurant.
Among the new features of the building and pointed out by Ms. Cox are an expanded lobby with intricate ceiling molding work touched up and recreated by local sculptor Aubrey Charnell, plenty of comfortable lobby seating, a central check-in area, a grab-and-go food station in the lobby and several meeting spaces. The latter includes a second-floor parlor space and one with the building’s uniquely large arched windows in view and overnight rooms attached.
Some glassed-off spaces near the lobby will also be leased for complementary retail uses.
The outside terra cotta that had been damaged had to be replaced in places using a laser scan, she said.
New elevators were also put in place, although some of the original doors remained, with others built to replicate them. The original ones have the appearance of being more wood like.
The old terrazzo and tile floors and lobby-accessible stairways remain, as does the mail chute. Some of the floors in the hotel rooms have very minor markings or are slightly imperfect due to years of use, and Ms. Cox said officials hope that adds to the charm of the building.
Also remaining is the sign showing the old office and business rooms of the former tenants of recent decades.
One new feature that almost appears to complement perfectly the older features is the Iris Rooftop Bar, which HK Architects and principal Alex Reyland worked into the rooftop area where HVAC systems had been to give the building an 11th floor.
It might give an additional mountaintop experience as well to someone out climbing a local mountain or rock during the day. “It is the highest rooftop bar in downtown Chattanooga, offering brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a DJ,” Ms. Cox said. She added that the setting is especially great at night, with views of the area mountains and some of the other downtown buildings designed by R.H. Hunt. It features outdoor seating areas as well as windows that open in the warmer season. It also has a long bar, with countertops and other features being hoisted up there recently by crane.
Ms. Cox, who said she moved to Chattanooga about a year ago to work at this building owned and developed by HKS Holdings of Milwaukee and being remodeled by Grace Construction, has enjoyed her time here so far. While trying to get this building ready for adventurers and other guests, she has enjoyed her own new adventure, she hinted.
“It’s been a blast,” said the University of South Florida graduate. “This is the second hotel I’ve opened, and watching everything come to life the last few months has been very rewarding.”
by John Shearer
That is because the historic Chattanooga Bank Building, as it was known for decades, has been restored, remodeled and refurbished into a Tapestry Collection by Hilton hotel. As a result, some of the finer elements of architectural adornment typically put in banks of old remain to offer what hotel officials hope is a unique experience for travelers.
“I think people will definitely appreciate the historic aspect of this hotel, including all the original elements from 1927 that are incorporated into the building,” said hotel director of sales Katie Cox as she offered a tour a couple of weeks before its formal opening in late January. “That includes an original letter drop, elevator doors, the elevator dials and Tennessee white marble throughout,” she said.
And some of the other aesthetic features that now might draw the most eyes - like two bank vault doors where a basement speakeasy bar will be - were originally put in just for function.
But there is no doubt this building on East Eighth Street between Market and Broad streets is uniquely a hotel, with people checking in where checks were cashed, and maybe a passport instead of a passbook now in a traveler’s pocket.
Ms. Cox said the hotel - which features 148 rooms of uniquely varying shapes and sizes and several meeting spaces - also has a unique name strictly attached to this Chattanooga hotel. A waymark is a directional sign on a trail for a hiker, and the hotel is, yes, banking on it to be a popular destination for the various out-of-town visitors who come to Chattanooga to enjoy outdoors activities in the nearby mountains and waterways.
“We are looking for the urban mountaineer,” she said. “We are looking for the hiker, rock climber and mountain biker. And when you are here, you can immerse yourself into being a local.”
That draw is emphasized through some earth-tone color accents throughout the hotel’s rooms and public areas, as well as some outdoorsy photos and artwork that grace the walls. This is also made evident by the larger-than-typical exercise room with multiple pieces of equipment.
But the hotel also has plenty of draw for the true urbanite as well, primarily through its historic and architectural detail that might let one feel as if he or she is in Manhattan or another big American city. Historic preservationists might find the hotel as appealing as hikers, and Chattanoogans who have admired or frequented the building over the years might even be tempted to stay there.
Of course, it is not the only hotel in a historic building in Chattanooga. The current Read House building has been around since 1926 and has always been a hotel, and the old Park Hotel near the Hamilton Courthouse was also refurbished and recently reopened after being an office building with a mid-century covering for several decades, among others.
The Chattanooga Bank Building opened amid much local fanfare on Oct. 26, 1927, as the Chattanooga Savings Bank. A key bank official was Z.W. Wheland, and he chose R.H. Hunt to be the architect because Mr. Wheland had also been involved as a civic volunteer with the construction of the Hamilton County Courthouse and Memorial Auditorium and liked Mr. Hunt’s work on those structures.
By 1929, the bank merged with First National Bank, and the lobby area was remodeled. The bank was unfortunately a victim of the Great Depression a few years later, but the building remained for decades and now appears ready to be around for many more years with its new polish and use.
Mr. Hunt, incidentally, also had his office in the Chattanooga Bank Building for a period, as have people such as the late Coca-Cola bottling magnate Cartter Lupton. In more recent decades before the building closed as new development opportunities there were sought, tenants included noted portrait artist Gordon Wetmore in a 10th floor penthouse, the Clements Jewelers clock and watch repair business, and the offices of identical twin lawyers Chamberlain McAllester and Robert McAllester. On the lobby level were Rone Regency Jewelers and a small Mediterranean-style restaurant.
Among the new features of the building and pointed out by Ms. Cox are an expanded lobby with intricate ceiling molding work touched up and recreated by local sculptor Aubrey Charnell, plenty of comfortable lobby seating, a central check-in area, a grab-and-go food station in the lobby and several meeting spaces. The latter includes a second-floor parlor space and one with the building’s uniquely large arched windows in view and overnight rooms attached.
Some glassed-off spaces near the lobby will also be leased for complementary retail uses.
The outside terra cotta that had been damaged had to be replaced in places using a laser scan, she said.
New elevators were also put in place, although some of the original doors remained, with others built to replicate them. The original ones have the appearance of being more wood like.
The old terrazzo and tile floors and lobby-accessible stairways remain, as does the mail chute. Some of the floors in the hotel rooms have very minor markings or are slightly imperfect due to years of use, and Ms. Cox said officials hope that adds to the charm of the building.
Also remaining is the sign showing the old office and business rooms of the former tenants of recent decades.
One new feature that almost appears to complement perfectly the older features is the Iris Rooftop Bar, which HK Architects and principal Alex Reyland worked into the rooftop area where HVAC systems had been to give the building an 11th floor.
It might give an additional mountaintop experience as well to someone out climbing a local mountain or rock during the day. “It is the highest rooftop bar in downtown Chattanooga, offering brunch on Saturday and Sunday with a DJ,” Ms. Cox said. She added that the setting is especially great at night, with views of the area mountains and some of the other downtown buildings designed by R.H. Hunt. It features outdoor seating areas as well as windows that open in the warmer season. It also has a long bar, with countertops and other features being hoisted up there recently by crane.
Ms. Cox, who said she moved to Chattanooga about a year ago to work at this building owned and developed by HKS Holdings of Milwaukee and being remodeled by Grace Construction, has enjoyed her time here so far. While trying to get this building ready for adventurers and other guests, she has enjoyed her own new adventure, she hinted.
“It’s been a blast,” said the University of South Florida graduate. “This is the second hotel I’ve opened, and watching everything come to life the last few months has been very rewarding.”
by John Shearer
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